Saint Paul Baptist Church

One of Collin county's oldest black congregations, this church was organized in 1872 by the Rev. Jeff Shirley of Kentucky. Members worshiped beneath a brush arbor before constructing their first church building in 1885 on land purchased from T.E. Shirley. Three years later, Shirley sold them acreage adjacent to Melissa Cemetery for a church burial ground. After the original sanctuary was destroyed by a tornado on April 13, 1921, a new frame building was erected. For over 100 years, this fellowship has held an annual homecoming celebration in May. (1978) Incise on back: Faithful Families Sanders Clayton Thomas Hawkins Perry Thornton Johnson Crockett Frazier Carter Jackson